Green and real-time detection of GHB in soft drinks and alcoholic beverages using an eco-friendly cellulose paper-based fluorescent probe

Chemical submission, a nefarious tactic increasingly employed in criminal activities, has spurred urgent calls for innovative countermeasures. GHB, often dubbed “liquid ecstasy,” stands out as a favoured agent for its surreptitious nature and seamless solubility in water and alcoholic beverages. Addressing this menace head-on, a groundbreaking study delves into the development of advanced chemosensors, leveraging 2-aminonaphtoxazole- and benzoxazole-based compounds adorned with fluorescein, to construct a cellulose paper-based detection system. This ingenious setup not only detects GHB in water but extends its vigilance to real alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, illuminating a pathway to thwart potential assailants. With a fluorescence enhancement mechanism at play, the system boasts a dynamic range from 0 to 125 mM GHB in water, exhibiting a commendable limit of detection (LOD) at 7.3 mM. Crucially, its eco-friendly nature, devoid of solvent residuals, underscores its suitability as a proactive shield against chemical submission, embodying a beacon of hope in the fight against such insidious threats to public safety. • Paper-based sensors for fluorescent GHB detection. • Eco-friendly cellulose paper-based materials. • Fast and in situ detection of GHB in soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. • New 2-aminobenzoxazoles derivatives as fluorescent chemosensors for GHB in solution and solid phase.